Rule Of Right, Not Might

Felony And Misdemeanor Charges

Criminal records are nothing to take likely. This is true in any situation, but it is especially true if you are facing being convicted for a felony or a misdemeanor crime in Indiana. It is important to keep in mind that facing a criminal record can have a significant impact upon the rest of your life. In fact, it can make doing things like attending an institute for higher education, as well as finding a good job and a safe home, incredibly difficult. In some instances, especially when a job is at stake, it can be nearly impossible to get past the initial stages of application with acriminal record.

If you are facing criminal charges in Indiana, you should reach out to an experienced criminal defense attorney who understands how the courts work and how to best help you so that you can move on from the incident and attempt to continue forward with your life.

At Funk and Wendlinger, LLC, we believe that everyone deserves a fair trial and strong defense. That is why we work hard to ensure that our clients in Schererville and throughout northwest Indiana have the best representation possible. We work hard to get you the most optimal deal or sentence given the situation, and will not allow your rights to be railroaded.

What are criminal charges?

When you commit a crime, or are accused of committing a crime, you could find yourself facing criminal charges. This is an umbrella term that is used to refer to charges stemming from laws that were broken at a criminal level. That does not mean that every law has the same kind of sentence, of course. In Indiana, criminal offenses tend to belong to one of two kind categories: misdemeanors or felonies.

Misdemeanors

If you absolutely have to end up with criminal charges and this is inescapable, then you want to ensure you end up with a misdemeanor rather than a felony. While they are not something to be ignored or laughed off, misdemeanors are less serious that felonies, and the amount of punishment that you receive for them reflects that. There are three different “classes” of misdemeanors that you should keep in mind. Consider each class as a level of seriousness that doles out its own amount of punishment:

Class A Misdemeanor: Jail time of up to one year, and fines of up to $5000.00.

Class B Misdemeanor: Jail time of up to 180 days, and fines of up to $1000.00.

Class C Misdemeanor: Jail time of up to 60 days, and fines of up to $500.00.

As you can see, the penalties for misdemeanors vary depending upon the kind of misdemeanor that you are charged with. Class A misdemeanors are among the most serious in terms of punishment while Class C misdemeanors tend to be among the least severe.

Felonies

If you commit a crime that is more serious than a misdemeanor, you will be looking at felony charges. Note that felonies are considered much more serious than misdemeanors, and you will be looking at jail time that far exceeds that of what you might receive for a misdemeanor. There are five total classes of felonies: A-D and murder:

Class D Felony: Prison time ranging from six months to three years.

Class C Felony: Prison time ranging from two to eight years.

Class B Felony: Prison time ranging from six to 20 years.

Class A Felony: Prison time ranging from 20 to 50 years.

Murder: Prison time ranging from 45 years to life, or the death penalty.

Additionally, if you are convicted of any felony you could be ordered to pay fines as high as $10,000.00.

As you can see, felonies pack quite a bit more time behind bars that misdemeanors. Additionally, those convicted of a felony charge will be going to prison, not jail. Prisons are state run and mean that you could find yourself shuttled around the state wherever there is room for you. They tend to be overcrowded and might be full of criminals who have committed crimes that are far more violent than anything you have encountered before.

How should I face criminal charges?

If you end up with criminal charges, you should hire a skilled criminal defense attorney immediately in order to help give yourself the best chance possible of a favorable outcome. This includes potentially negotiating down low class felonies to misdemeanors, getting you less time behind bars and a stay in local jail rather than the state run prison system.

For more information regarding criminal charges – felonies and misdemeanors – contact Funk and Wendlinger, LLC, today. We can help you get through your court dates as efficiently as possible, and will ensure that your rights are upheld. Reach out for a consultation by calling 219-865-0002orsending an email.